Tonga's Dr Saia Ma'u Piukala told RNZ Pacific most member states and countries are focused on hospital-based models of healthcare. Photo: RNZI / Koro Vaka'uta
The head of the World Health Organisation's (WHO) Western Pacific office says health leaders in the region want the UN agency to prioritise primary healthcare initiatives to address the challenges of universal health coverage.
Tonga's Dr Saia Ma'u Piukala told RNZ Pacific that the regional committee on digital health and health financing approved two regional frameworks at its seventy-fifth session in Manila.
The first one was on health financing, and the second one was on digital health.
"One of the critical components of universal health coverage is community access to healthcare services, while the other is financial protection, ensuring our communities don't face financial hardship to access healthcare services," he said.
He said health information systems in main hospitals and health centres on outer islands right across the region need upgrades.
Pacific communities deserve access to electronic records for a number of reasons, he added.
"People can access health care more easily, people can track their own health information themselves, health workers can care for people, and people are better protected against disease outbreak.
"And remember the last pandemic that we had [with] lockdown and border closed, no one had access to healthcare service, but with digital health [it] makes life easy for for people."
He also noted that most member states and countries are focused on hospital-based models.
However, he said that if they concentrate solely on these models, then most of the populations in the region will not have access to healthcare.
"We need a strong, sustainable health financing model within WHO to better serve our member states," he said.
Dr Piukala believes that everything is interconnected.
"It is important that we start looking at human health, animal health, and the environment together, as all pandemics are interconnected."
When asked about the challenge's member states were facing, Dr Piukala pointed out the impacts of climate change as a major hurdle.
"Climate-resilient health system is crucial in the Pacific. We need climate-resilient healthcare facilities," he said.
"I remember a recent survey that revealed 74 healthcare facilities from 14 countries were within 500 meters of the sea or a river, placing them at risk of flooding and inundation.
He said it is a priority that needs to be addressed.
"The Western Pacific is incredibly diverse, and we all know that a one-size-fits-all approach does not work, so we need to consider local contexts and solutions."
WHO regional director for Western Pacific, Dr Piukala. Photo: RNZ Pacific/ Koroi Hawkins
Looking ahead
Dr Piukala added that oral health was last discussed 38 years ago and will be a focus going forward.
"The adoption of our new regional vision has been important, and oral health has been neglected. So, oral health is one of my priorities," he said.
"I want to see a national vaccine plan for oral health care, not only in small island developing states but for all our members."